The USNORTHCOM Integrated Architecture: Developing and Managing a Capabilities-based Architecture as a Program to Enhance the Homeland Defense and Military Assistance to Civil Authorities Mission Areas
Raymond A. Beamer, Jr, The MITRE Corporation
Lt. Col. Paul Henning, USAF, United States Northern Command
Richard Cullen, United States Northern Command
The United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Integrated Architecture is a capabilities-based methodology, grounded in the two missions of the command: Homeland Defense (HLD) and Military Assistance to Civil Authorities (MACA). USNORTHCOM has identified 17 critical warfighting capabilities and 13 Joint Mission Essential Tasks (JMETS) that enable those capabilities. The command architecture provides a means of describing and assessing/analyzing the infrastructure, personnel, and organization to perform those tasks.
This approach requires a collaborative process that utilizes an integrated, capabilities-based architecture to identify prioritized capability requirements, gaps and shortfalls, and integrated doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) solutions. Gaps in command capabilities, operational requirements, and associated risks are identified via analysis between the "As-Is" and "To-Be" architectures. Time-phased capabilities are illustrated in the transition and sequencing plans.
The architecture process has several key 'touchpoints' to other USNORTHCOM processes and functions, namely, the IT investment management, resource allocation, and capabilities-based acquisition processes. The USNORTHCOM Chief Architect manages the development and maintenance of the command's architecture as a program, structuring the office as a program management office (PMO).
Lastly, the paper delineates the triad of capabilities-based architecture, investment management decision support, and implementation.
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